Barley Risotto

“This version bucks tradition, using barley instead of arborio rice, for a novel twist on the classic… Deliciously creamy and accidentally vegan, this easy peasy, 10 ingredient barley risotto comes together in 30 minutes using my Instant Pot, which cuts down on washing up and frees me from mundane pot-stirring duties. Simply start by sauteing your ingredients, then set the pot to pressure cook for a few minutes and do the rest of the work.”

- Jess Levin, Culinary Cartel

1 Onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 Cup Pearl Barley
1/2 glass wine (optional)
3 Cups Veg Stock
1/4 cup cashew cream/coconut cream
2 Tbsp pesto of choice
5 large mushrooms
Chopped parsley, sage or oregano for garnish
Crispy onions
Salt pepper and oil as needed

*If not following a dairy-free or vegan diet, you can add in 1/4 cup of parmesan once the risotto has finished pressure cooking.

For the risotto, your mushrooms can be roasted whole, for 15 minutes at 200C drizzled with oil, salt and pepper or thinly sliced and cooked until soft with your onions below.

Add a little oil to the metal insert of the Instant Pot and press the saute function, adjust the saute intensity to “normal”. Add the chopped onion and garlic, and saute until the onions are soft. You will also add your sliced mushrooms in,  at this point, if not roasting them.

Add in the barley, stirring it to coat it with the oil.  Then add the white wine, and stir the barley until the wine has evaporated. Finally, add the stock and stir it through the barley.
 
Place the lid on the Instant Pot, and set it to Pressure Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes. Once the timer beeps, allow a Natural Pressure Release for 10 minutes, before releasing the remaining pressure and safely removing the lid.
 
Turn the Instant Pot back to Saute, on “more” (the highest heat setting for sauteing), then add the coconut cream, or cashew cream, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
 
Spoon the barley risotto into bowls, then garnish with your rocket, crispy onions and mushrooms.
Serve warm